"What the fuck!?? What the actual fuck? Bro, where the hell are we? Eternity? What is that bitch blabbering about?" Madan started freaking out.
"Bro, what is happening?" Rey also couldn't remain calm. Everything that was going on seemed bizarre. Only a few minutes ago, they had gotten out of the Spire and were facing an angry mob throwing all sorts of attacks at them. Though this was a dire situation, it was fine. This was something they had all expected to face and they survived thanks to Liam taking care of everything just like he had always done. Now they were supposed to go home but suddenly they were staring at this lizard asshole who was talking about paradise and eternity? Just what the hell was going on?
After a few seconds of silence, Lan Deming solemnly spoke up. "I think we are in some sort of prison."
Rey and Madan could figure out as much on their own but when they heard it from someone else, it was that much worse. Everyone turned to look at Liam who could only nod his head.
"I did not think too much about this person after confirming that whatever he told us was bullshit. Now that mistake has come to bite us. We're caught in a scenario far beyond our normal comprehension," Liam's voice was steady, but the frustration was evident.
"What the hell? But how did he interfere with our teleportation?"
Liam shook his head. "I don't know."
"It could be related to the mark he mentioned." Lan Deming suggested.
"It could be." Liam nodded.
"Fine. It doesn't matter how we got here. How the hell are we going to get out of this place?" Madan looked around and only saw lush greenery and a peaceful serene environment no matter where he looked but this only made him that much more frustrated because the truth was they might as well be bound and shackled with chains and collars at the moment.
However, Liam could only shake his head again. "I don't know."
"Bro, do you at least have some idea where we are at the moment?" Rey picked up some grass and mud and they seemed very real. As real as it could be.
Liam again shook his head. "I don't know." He then turned to look in a particular direction. "But I have a good idea where to find out more information about this place."
Immediately, Rey, Madan and Lan Deming, all turned to look in the same direction. The troublesome neighbor.
"Are you sure he will help us?"
"I don't know but it is a good place to start." Liam started walking back to the place where they had first landed. There was a fifty percent chance that this was a stupid idea and they were probably going to get screwed but how did it matter. They were already screwed.
Liam led the way, his mind racing to piece together the puzzle. The idea that they might be in some sort of prison wasn't far-fetched, considering the powers at play in the myriad realms. But why? And more importantly, by whom?
Approaching the area where they had encountered the neighbor's wrath, they slowed down, their senses heightened for any signs of hostility or warning.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Liam called out, projecting his voice into the serene landscape. For a few seconds there was no reply but the next moment, a powerful aura suddenly descended on the group. Everyone except Liam was affected by the raw killing intent and were crushed by the pressure as if a mountain was placed on their shoulders.
"Not bad. One newbie with some potential." The voice boomed again. Liam froze as he could clearly feel someone scanning him from head to toe. "Not bad at all. Interesting. Very interesting. Alright. You can all come over but keep your traps shut. I don't like too much yapping."
Liam signaled and everyone remained quiet. The group silently started walking towards the direction of the voice. There were only forests as far as the eye could see and the distance seemed to grow as they continued walking.
After a few minutes, the scenery slowly started changing. The green forests started showing signs of corruption as decay and disease seemed to have spread everywhere. Plants were wilting, trees were hollow and blackened, and the air was thick with a foul stench. The beauty that had initially surrounded them was now replaced by a landscape of despair and decay. It was as if life itself was being sucked out of the land, leaving behind a dying world.
"Nether!" Liam felt the unmistakable presence of death energy in the air.
"Yes. Nether. So that's why you are here in my territory." The voice this time was very close and everyone snapped their heads to see who the person was. The next second shock appeared on all faces as they saw a grisly sight.
In front of them was a pile of black and rotting roots or something that looked like roots. However, unlike normal roots these were not attached to a tree. Instead, on top of this pile of mess was a head. A talking head.
"Fuck!" Madan and Rey both shouted out loud, recoiling in horror at the grotesque sight before them.
The head, however, seemed unfazed by their reactions. Its eyes, glowing with a deep, dark light, surveyed them with an air of indifference. "Yes, scream, flinch, react as all newcomers do. But remember, your fear, like everything else here, is subject to my will."
Liam stepped forward, his expression calm despite the unsettling scene. "You're the one controlling this area? What do you want from us?"
The head's lips curled into a semblance of a smile, revealing rows of sharp, decayed teeth. "Controlling this area? Boy, are you still not aware? I am not controlling anything. I am just like you, another prisoner. You are currently inside a giant beast called the Geliza Salamander. We are all inside the same damned beast and there is no way out of this hell."